American Cruise Lines’ (ACL) latest itinerary combines three rivers, a bay and the eastern coast of the United States, and sails onboard three different vessels, for a unique, 35-day Civil War-focused voyage. The first “Civil War Battlefields Cruise” is scheduled to depart from New Orleans on May 4, 2024, and end in Gettysburg, Pa., on June 6.
Altogether, the itinerary is set to cover almost every significant battlefield of the Civil War and 13 states, highlighting Fort Sumter, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Antietam and more. It will navigate the Mississippi River, the Tennessee River, the Potomac River, the East Coast Intracoastal Waterway and Chesapeake Bay onboard American Melody, American Symphony and American Eagle.
Civil War experts will be on hand for the duration to interpret and “discuss the motives, strategies and personalities that drove each side of the war,” according to ACL. In fact, the theme cruise will be led by Bertram Hayes-Davis, the great-great-grandson of Jefferson Davis, an American politician who represented the state of Mississippi in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and also served as president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. Hayes-Davis is considered a scholar of Civil War history with a wealth of knowledge and distinct perspective on the conflict, including its individual events and battles.
"This cruise is one of the most holistic views of the Civil War ever offered,” Hayes-Davis said. “Guests will experience the people, places and events of the war, as they visit the battlefields and stand where history was made. This is a unique opportunity to see the entire scope of the battles of the Civil War and put them in context to each other and the entire conflict.”
The route is divided by tentpole Civil War periods and events: the Anaconda/Vicksburg Campaign, the Western Theater, General Sherman’s March, Union Advantage/Naval Power, the Eastern Theater and the Battle of Gettysburg. Cruise ship routes are connected via motor coach, with all transfers included.
Also bundled in the fare will be a complimentary pre-cruise stay in New Orleans, hotels between cruise segments, daily excursions and entertainment, all meals and beverages extending to beer and wine at lunch and dinner, a daily cocktail hour, Wi-Fi internet access, gratuities and port charges.
The cruise is now available for agents to book.
Agent Response
At a time when longer cruises are trending, a 35-day option that takes place entirely within the U.S. is an enticing prospect, even if it’s mostly catering to a niche demographic.
“This is such a unique special-interest sailing,” said Tom Baker, president of Houston, Texas-based CruiseCenter. “While we have a limited audience for this, I suspect ACL did some homework or had enough past guests asking for such to make it a go. This is fascinating indeed.”
Whether or not it will appeal to a larger crowd is still to be seen. However, clients seeking a longer domestic trip may be inclined to board regardless of the theme, as the stops along the way hold interest beyond wartime.
Alternative 60-Day Domestic Small-Ship Cruise
Less war-focused and even longer is ACL’s previously announced 60-day “The Great United States” itinerary. This alternative route covers 20 states and a total of four rivers, and is scheduled in time for our nation’s 250th anniversary on Aug. 14, 2024.
Divided into six parts, the “Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise” portion will sail from Portland, Ore. to Clarkston, Wash. onboard American Jazz. The following week will be spent on the “National Parks Land Package” covering three parks and ending in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Afterwards will be a “Complete Mississippi River Cruise” on American Symphony after jumping over to New Orleans and heading up to St. Paul, Minn. Then a “Maine Coast & Harbors Cruise” will hop to Portland, Maine, and navigate to Boston on American Independence. The “Yankee Seaports” section will next continue on Independence to New York City. The cruise concludes on Independence with “Hudson River Fall Foliage” before returning to New York.
